Study Links Porn, Sex Violence

WASHINGTON -- A Justice Department commission on pornography has concluded that most pornography sold in the United States is potentially harmful and can lead to violence.

In a 211-page introduction to its final report, the Attorney General`s Commission on Pornography urged action against the pornography industry, including more severe penalties for violation of obscenity laws.

The report and a 26-page list of recommendations, scheduled to be made public in July, found that exposure to most pornography ``bears some causal relationship to the level of sexual violence, sexual coercion or unwanted aggression.``

The conclusions conflict with those of a 1970 presidential commission that found no link between pornography and violence.

The 11-member commission, formed by Attorney General Edwin Meese III a year ago, said most pornography in the United States would be classified as ``degrading,`` particularly to women.

The commission found that ``substantial exposure to such material is likely to increase the extent to which those exposed will view rape or other forms of sexual violence as less serious than they otherwise would have.``

As a result of the study, the commission called for consideration of a federal law requiring a mandatory one-year prison sentence for anyone convicted a second time on federal obscenity charges.